Migrant farmworkers receive much needed health screens

Programs that help anyone improve or maintain their health are key. This is especially true for migrant farmworkers, an underserved community across the country. Screening for chronic health problems such as hypertension and diabetes and providing important information about healthy lifestyles improves farmworkers’ ability to continue to work and make a living.

Here are examples of that work:

• Florida is home to about 200,000 migrant farmworkers. Most of them lack adequate access to health care and do not eat healthy diets. Chagas disease is also often undiagnosed in this population. This is a parasitic infection found throughout Mexico, Central and South America. Chagas can cause heart failure and is sometimes fatal, often going overlooked among the Latin American population. Screenings in two Florida counties served 200 migrant farmworkers. They were tested for high blood pressure, depression, diabetes mellitus and Chagas disease. Testing results from one event revealed a critical and perhaps lifesaving outcome: Many farmworkers had diabetes mellitus, including some who were undiagnosed. University of Florida Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension agents affiliated with CAF Latino also distributed information about healthy eating and lifestyles. Approximately 70 farmworkers were also vaccinated for COVID-19 during the screenings. The group also brought 15 students to Colombia to offer health screenings to underserved residents there.
• In Virginia, a COVID-19 vaccination clinic helped 1,000 farmworkers receive their vaccinations. Farmworkers were reached using direct mail and the goal was to help those without access to health care facilities and at a greater risk for severe COVID-19 related illnesses. Health screenings and vaccination are basic healthcare that everyone deserves access to. Migrant farmworkers often lack this basic care. The Land-Grant University System contributed to valuable screenings to improve outcomes for this group.

Source: National Impacts Database

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